Fifty students from Cross and Amphitheater Middle School gathered last week at the Girl Power event at TEP headquarters in downtown Tucson to hear presentations from women working in STEM and participate in activities that put their skills to the test.

The purpose of the event is for students to learn more about less obvious STEM jobs, said Scott Weiler, a former teacher of engineering and robotics in the Amphitheater district who volunteered to help create the event.

“Girls cannot be invisible, so they must be given the opportunity to see what these areas are and be able to make decisions,” said the Association of Engineering Educators. “We’re just trying to give these girls a chance to see what their potential is.”

In the past, students have visited Raytheon in Tucson and the Science Fair in Phoenix. Wyler said all partners want to host a girl power event every year.

For more information on STEM education opportunities for students, email Weiler at scottaweiler@gmail.com.

Nathan Merrill, an eighth grader at Legacy Traditional School in northwest Tucson, is the 2023 Pima County Spelling Bee Champion.

Earlier this month, he won first place by spelling the last word “brusque” correctly after battling 12 rounds over two hours.

Karen Opoku-Appoh, an eighth grader at Marana Middle School, was the runner-up.

The two will compete at the Arizona Education Foundation State Spelling Bee in Phoenix on March 18, competing against other Arizona County winners for a chance to represent their state at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland. increase.

The Pima County School Superintendent’s Office also confirmed that Zamara Gonzalez of DeGrazia Elementary School came in third. Chantal Newhouse in the Wilson K-8 in 4th place. Homeschooled student Josiah Wilkerson came in fifth.

City high school teacher Stephen Beale was one of 52 educators across the nation selected as recipients of the Society for Science STEM Research Grant.

The purpose of the grant program is to engage students from diverse low-income communities in independent scientific research projects.

Beall teaches Biology, Science, Engineering Practice, and Natural History at City High School and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Pima Community College. Her grant provides her equipment.

“It is discouraging to ask students to change their research topic because they do not have the necessary facilities. often,” Beall said.

“This instrument gives students the opportunity to not only do the research that interests them, but at a more grade-appropriate level of rigor.”

Grants of $1,000 to $5,000 are available in two forms: research kits assembled and distributed to teachers, and funds paid directly to teachers for STEM-related equipment.

For more information on the grant program, please visit: www.societyforscience.org.